You don't need dozens of subscriptions to start an online business.
If I were starting over today with a limited budget, these are the first four tools I'd pay for.
They cover the essentials:
1. Build a website & collect emails
2. Grow on social media
3. Create short-form videos
4. Own your domain name
I've reviewed a lot of software over the years, and these are the tools I'd recommend to a friend who wants to build an online business without overspending.
1. Systeme.io
Starting at: Free (paid plans start at around $27/month)
What it does:
Website builder
Landing pages
Email marketing
Sales funnels
Digital products
Marketing automation
Why I'd buy it first:
If your budget is tight, this replaces several separate tools. Instead of paying for a website builder, email marketing software, and funnel software individually, you can do almost everything from one platform.
2. Sociamonials
Starting at: Around $15–19/month
What it does:
Schedule social media posts
Manage multiple platforms
Track engagement
Run social campaigns
Why I'd buy it:
Consistency is one of the hardest parts of social media. Scheduling your content in advance saves time and helps you stay visible even on busy weeks.
Bonus points!
It posts also to LinkedIn, Youtube, Threads, Tiktok, Pinterest, Bluesky and Google Business Profile.
3. Submagic
Starting at: Around $20/month
What it does:
Automatic captions
Short-form video editing
Animated subtitles
Faster editing workflow
Why I'd buy it:
If you're posting on Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts, this tool can cut your editing time dramatically while making your videos look more polished.
4. Namecheap
Starting at: About $6–15/year (depending on the domain extension)
What it does:
Register your domain name
Domain management
DNS management
Why I'd buy it:
Think of your website as your home on the internet. Social media platforms are like rented apartments. They can change their algorithms, update their policies, or limit your reach, and you have very little control over those decisions.
Your domain, on the other hand, is something you own.
It's where you build your brand, publish your content, grow your email list, and create an online presence that isn't tied to any single platform.
For less than the cost of a cup of coffee each month, a domain gives your business a permanent address that you control.
No matter where you choose to market - Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, or somewhere new in the future - you'll always have one place that belongs to you.
That's why I'd buy a domain before spending money on almost anything else.
That's My Starter Stack!
There are hundreds of business tools available.These are simply the four I'd spend my own money on first if I were building an online business on a limited budget.
I'll keep this page updated whenever I switch tools or discover something I think is a better option, so you can always see what I'm currently recommending.